GAME DAY: Ottawa Senators @ New Jersey Devils :: 7:30pm ET :: Wed. Dec. 18th, 2013

I don't think he can try harder. I think he's got an injury, or something's up. He's a big step behind.

whatever, just needs to go.

And yeah it's probably time for new blood up top as well (GMs)

Ev wrote:How are they a joke.  I don't understand this fan base.  It is like you actually listened to those cup predictions lol

The joke is being the worst team in the league, by far, during the first 10 mins of a game and after 35 games not a single one person in the organization knows why it's happening. Worse, I think they know exactly what's wrong, and it's leadership because the kids are not learning how to face adversity and how to react to bad breaks (officiating etc). It's certainly not Spezza and Philips that are gonna have momentum changing shifts and lead by example to show the young guys how it's done.
So I guess what I'm saying is that the joke is not really the team, more like the organization. Not enough guts to fix the problem.

SpezDispenser wrote:I don't think he can try harder.  I think he's got an injury, or something's up.  He's a big step behind.

Not a single soul in Ottawa should give a Diddle at this point why he plays like Dung, just get the Diddle out of the team.

Yah Spezza needs to go at some point because what is happening in Ottawa is a perfect reflection of him. Inconsistent, frustrating, sometimes brilliant, but more often lazy play from him and the Sens.

Team won't win with him and they need to realize this. It's not even about getting a great return it's about getting the right pieces back in a deal for Spezza. I again look at NYR for the perfect trading partner. Krieder, 1st, maybe Hagelin... guy that can skate and score and in Krieder's case can be big.

From the Sun today....

"Coach Paul MacLean isn't happy at all.

He questioned the club's work ethic and leadership."

"We're an inconsistent group. We can't get the puck out of our zone. We play good against good teams. We play bad against teams below us. That's just a lack of focus, a lack of leadership and that's a lack of us wanting to play in the National Hockey League and be an elite team. We are a long, long way from being an elite team."

That's really bad and basically what everyone thought. Anyone who says that isn't a direct shot at Spezza is just lying to themselves at this point.

And now all the talk is a divide between this leadership group and the coach which is about the worst case scenario possible.  GET SPEZZA OUT OF OTTAWA.  Guy is killing this franchise right now and IMO he pulled the shoot.

Team is firing on all cylinders when Spezza is out last year, best coached team in the NHL all things considered, makes the playoffs, wins a round. Spezza comes back and WHAM hammered by Pitt. Reg season starts and the Sens have been awful pretty much the entire way aside from a few games just like Spezza.

Not sure what else the team needs to see along with the fans to put pressure on the organization to make the move. The Sens are better without Spezza, flat out.

More PMac:

“There’s a lack of focus, there’s a lack of leadership, there’s a lack of preparation, just a lack of wanting to play in the National Hockey League and be a team that is willing to do what it takes to be elite,” MacLean said. “We’re a long, long way from being an elite team in the league.”

I'm not sure what we could get for Spezza right now, but he's gotta have decent trade value. Problem with dealing with a team like the Rags is that they are up against the cap, so any move would likely have to wait for the deadline.

Also, Spezza has a NTC, so he could make our lives difficult.

This is unbelievable. We go from one of the most impressive teams last year to one that is coming apart at the seams this year.

So frustrating.

Haha that's SO BAD. I mean, that's a really bad thing for a coach to say and just through out to the media especially focusing on the leadership. He basically said "we won't win anything with Spezza as the captain" lol.

tim1_2 wrote:I'm not sure what we could get for Spezza right now, but he's gotta have decent trade value.  Problem with dealing with a team like the Rags is that they are up against the cap, so any move would likely have to wait for the deadline.

Also, Spezza has a NTC, so he could make our lives difficult.

You get the right piece back if you can, doesn't have to be equal value. What MacLean said is really, really bad. That was heard by fans, Bryan Murray, and everyone else who has any kind of investment in the organization. To me that's MacLean saying he can't do anything with this group as is because some guys don't buy in. Shocking... not like a few people have said this about Spezza for 10 years plus and into junior from fans to media to "experts". Guy is crashing and burning right now.

I'm not sure why PMac said all that to the press. I can get that he's just as frustrated as we are. Maybe he's been saying that to the room and just got fed up that it was not clicking. Not sure. Has he lost the room?

shabbs wrote:I'm not sure why PMac said all that to the press. I can get that he's just as frustrated as we are. Maybe he's been saying that to the room and just got fed up that it was not clicking. Not sure. Has he lost the room?

Like I said, Spezza is a coach killer but according to some guys like Clouston, Padock, and Hartsberg don't count. Martin's time was up. Murray moved to the GM role. So really, Spezza has only had 1 coach his entire NHL career.

MacLean isn't protecting "his" captain anymore, time to move on from the failure that has been Pierre Turgeon, oops I mean Jason Spezza.

shabbs wrote:I'm not sure why PMac said all that to the press. I can get that he's just as frustrated as we are. Maybe he's been saying that to the room and just got fed up that it was not clicking. Not sure. Has he lost the room?

Impossible to say. I think, as Neely has subtley pointed out, that the problem may be Spezza. It's apparent that guys like Turris, Karlsson, Ryan, MacArthur, Neil, etc, are doing their part (most of the time), but Spezza's been inconsistent in his effort, which isn't good from a Captain.

It sucks...we were in a position this past summer where we pretty much had to name Spezza as Captain, or have no hope of retaining him when his contract is up after next season. And now it seems like he's going to be leaving even sooner than that if a trade can be made that he'll agree to.

tim1_2 wrote:

shabbs wrote:I'm not sure why PMac said all that to the press. I can get that he's just as frustrated as we are. Maybe he's been saying that to the room and just got fed up that it was not clicking. Not sure. Has he lost the room?

Impossible to say.  I think, as Neely has subtley pointed out, that the problem may be Spezza.  It's apparent that guys like Turris, Karlsson, Ryan, MacArthur, Neil, etc, are doing their part (most of the time), but Spezza's been inconsistent in his effort, which isn't good from a Captain.  

It sucks...we were in a position this past summer where we pretty much had to name Spezza as Captain, or have no hope of retaining him when his contract is up after next season.  And now it seems like he's going to be leaving even sooner than that if a trade can be made that he'll agree to.

Even Phillips has been doing his part and it's not like he's a big giant question mark on or off the ice as well.  "Chris, go play with Ceci, just do your thing" - job well done.  "Hey Chris, play beside EK, let him move the puck and just hang back" - job well done.  "Philly, you are only LH shot we trust on the PP and we need someone back there who we can trust" job well done.

Of course Spezza is the problem, he's always been the problem and even MacLean is hinting at it.  The team is inconsistent?  Who?  Turris you get the same thing every game, MacArther you get the same thing.  Ryan?  Little more inconsistent but w/e, that's a goal scorer for you.  Karlsson, up and down for sure but still young and still playing a ton of mins.  Goaltending has been inconsistent for sure.

The only guy who doesn't bring the effort level needed on most nights is Spezza, everyone else is either A) working hard, B) young, or C) doesn't have a ton of NHL talent in their skill set.  Only one Spezza falls under is A).  It's a joke at this point and like I have said over and over and over (some like to dismiss it) until they move away from Spezza this team will look exactly like this.

Spezza is a career loser and has a long history of killing coaching careers. He might be the most uncoachable player in the NHL and that's saying something.

Ev wrote:Yeah, one guy.

Captain Giggles is not alone. #lalala the whole season.

wprager wrote:

Ev wrote:Yeah, one guy.

Captain Giggles is not alone.  #lalala the whole season.

Pretty close. Anderson is helping him out though.